in the 70s - Top Ten Movies of the Seventies

Top Ten Movies of the Seventies

What are your top ten favorite movies from the 70s?

We also have pages on this topic devoted to the 80s and 90s

By: TheRook

10. Colussus: The Forbin Project - 1970
Long before wargames this movie showed us how a computer that had to much control of the defense network could cause things to get out of hand. The film gives a look at how dated and large computers where at that time, and also shows some of the paranoi that was evident in the turbulent 70s.
9. The Omega Man - 1971
Another bleak look at the future with Charleton Heston. Interestingly enough because of a biological war mankind has almost all become like zombies. Heston finds a cure, but must fight the zombies to get it to a small community of survivors. the hair, clothing styles, and music date the film and give a look at a time capsule of the 70s.
8. Logan's Run - 1976
The 70s were filled with SciFi films looking at how we seemed to quit caring about others. Logan's Run even showed a society in which you didn't live past 30 for the good of a decadent society short on resources. Nice F/X for the time. Good performances by Michael York and a notable cast.
7. Lord of the Rings - 1973
Ralph Bakshi did an execellent job of bringing all the wonderful characters of J.R.R. Tolkien to life. Most everyone at the time had read the books. The popularity of the books and film undoubtedly helped start the Dungeons and Dragon interest in the late 70s that lead to all types of games and books.
6. Westworld - 1973
Another look at how our technological future may turn on us at a vacation dreamland. Yul Brenner made a lasting impression with his robotic cowboy from hell. He was "The Terminator" before Arnold.
5. Soylent Green - 1973
A scary look and what the future might bring. Great performances by Charleton Heston and Edward G. Robison. Even today you can hear someone joke about food with "Soylent Green, it's made from people!"
4. Superman - 1978
It gave us all a special feeling that maybe we could fly. Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder became a well known after this movie. The romance made it a great date picture.
3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975
I saw this when a couple friends dragged me to a theatre in St. Louis, MO in 1975. I was amazed at how people where using costumes and props ( newspapers, squirt guns, and rice) to immulate characters in the movie. To this day you can find midnight showings of this classic in any large city.
2. Jaws - 1972
Scared the hell out of me and everyone else. Everyone thought twice about going into the water that summer. Made my interest in SCUBA increase and I seriously considered Marine Biology as a career.
1. Star Wars - 1977
Before it was released as Chapter IV The New Hope it was just Star Wars when George Lucas released it in 1977. It forever changed the level of the bar for SciFi movies. It made Lucas a houshold name and fortunately gave him the support to continue to work his magic. Most people saw it at least twice, some set records watching it.

I have leaned towards SciFi films during this period because those were the films that stood out during the 70s. You must see Colossus: The Forbin Project and then Star Wars to get a full appreciation of how much things changed in SciFi movies in just 7 years. The 70s seemed to show how we were torn between wanting technological advances and the terror they may cause. Much different than the 80s where the films were mainly about kids growing up and friendship. Another film of the 70s worth mentioning is Saturday Night Fever - 1977. It made John Travolta a big star and had just about everyone going to clubs and dancing. It also revived the Bee Gees career and made them the most played group at the clubs and on the radio The only reason I don't have it in my top ten is because I thought it was great at the time but I wouldn't go back and watch it now unless I was going to a 70s costume party.

By: Raras

10. Exorcist
9. Xanadu
8. One on One
7. Saturday Night Fever
6. Midnight Express
5. Wild Geese
4. Star Wars
3. Jaws
2. Superman
1. Damien: Omen II

By: Becky

10. Halloween
When I watch this now it's not really that scary, but at the time it was absolutely terrifying. And although the movie itself doesn't really creep me out anymore, that theme music still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
9. The Boy in the Plastic Bubble
It may have been corny...but who didn't feel bad for poor John? Come on, that part where he ran out of oxygen on the football field...tell me that's not drama.
8. The Muppet Movie
Who doesn't love the muppets? I'll take them over Pokemon any day.
7. The Omen
I remember liking the Exorcist and thinking it was kind of chilling, but this movie scared the living crap out of me. It still freaks me out a little even now. It also tipped me off to one universal horror movie truth...when you hear crazy latin chant music, watch out.
6. Star Wars
Like Saturday Night Fever, this should probably make everyone's list...a bona fide classic.
5. The Deer Hunter
This movie is awesome...but so sad. The scene where DeNiro finds Christopher Walken playing Russian Roulette always makes me turn away from the TV.
4. Young Frankenstein
A timeless comedy.
3. Taxi Driver
Are you talking to me?
2. Saturday Night Fever
The plot may be slightly lacking...but this is THE movie of the '70s. Can ya dig it? I knew that ya could.
1. Grease
My favorite movie of all time!! I've seen it an obscene number of times, and I don't see me getting tired of it anytime soon. I saw this at the drive-in when I was 5 and that's when I fell head over heels for John.

By: Dave

10. Grease
9. Exorcist
8. The Muppet Movie
7. Star Wars
6. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
5. Young Frankenstein
4. Jaws
3. Superman
2. Saturday Night Fever
1. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
Smokey and the bandit 1 2 ans 3 are all the best movie of all time. There are tons of chase sceens. The movie has great acting.

By: Jim Hall

10. Phantasm
For horror movies, this is my all time favorite of the "weird" flicks.
9. Grease
You can't make a musical movie any more perfect than this.
8. Live and Let Die
A lot of people like Sean Connery as James Bond. But as for 007 films, this goes down as my all time favorite.
7. Smokey and the Bandit
I always thought the Hal Needham films were pretty good and funny. Jackie Gleason in his most funny and memorable role
6. The Poseidon Adventure
Another great diaster film from Irwin Allen. Plus an all star cast
5. Alien
Still probally the scariest Sci-Fi film ever made
4. Close Encounters of the Third Kind
X-Files can never come close to the realistic film of this Alien movie
3. The Towering Inferno
Awesome Cast, great Suspense, and realistic action. One of the best disaster films EVER MADE. (plus it's got Steve McQueen)
2. Jaws
The nostalgia of this film is still remembered 25 years after it's release. There will never be another shark film like it
1. Star Wars
The original Star Wars changed the way movies were made. Keeps you going the whole time

By: Tom Johnson

10. Jaws
9. The Godfather
8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
7. Chinatown
6. Heaven Can Wait
5. Midnight Express
4. Dog Day Afternoon
3. Taxi Driver
2. The Exorcist
1. Network

By: Pete Roberts

10. Switchblade Sisters (1975)
Director Jack Hill's (Coffy, Foxy Brown) infamous cult film on girl gangs is low budget, but great fun. If you liked The Warriors, then you'll like to see this film. Re-released by Quentin Tarantino's Rolling Thunder Pictures in 1997.
9. Chinatown (1974)
Roman Polanski's best film since Rosemary's Baby. This movie was made as a sort of colored version of a film noir. Great cast and great story by Robert Towne.
8. Enter The Dragon (1973)
The master of Kung Fu (Bruce Lee) in his Hollywood debut. This film is a action classic. A mix of kung-fu and James Bond. One of my all time favorites.
7. Superfly (1972)
A blaxploitation classic from Gordon Parks Jr. Starring Ron O' Neal as Youngblood Priest, a street hustler whos trying to make one last score so he can quit the game for good. Until the man gets in his way. Amazing soundtrack score by Curtis Mayfield. This pumps the movie up from a 1 to a 10.
6. Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg's Hitchcock-ian film of a monster shark terrorizing a small New England beach town. This was probably the first blockbuster film ever. Notice how we don't see the shark for the whole first half of the film?
5. Star Wars (1977)
This film marked a change in filmmaking and took us into another galaxy with some great characters and a incredible story.
4. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
This is one of my favorite of Stanley Kubricks films. In the future, the world is overrun by psychotic urban gangs like Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his Droogs. The film is horrifying and can be hilarious at the same time.
3. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Another incredible film by Francis Ford Coppola. Based on Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness, but set in Vietnam. A bizarre journey on the path to insanity. Great performances by Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper and Robert Duvall. This film took five years to make!!
2. Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese and Paul Shrader's (writer) interpretation of hell as seen through the eyes of a Vietnam vet on the downward spiral. Robert DeNiro's best performance.
1. The Godfather 1&2 (1972) & (1974)
Francis Ford Coppolas masterpiece of modern cinema. I put them together because I feel they should be watched as one film. This films direction, story and acting are impeccable. Great cast as well.